Kampala: Mobile courts start in Isingiro

By EPHRAIM KASOZI.

The Judiciary has started the Mobile Court system in Nakivale refugee settlement in Isingiro District in a move to bring justice closer to refugees, asylum seekers and residents.

The pilot initiative to be presided over by magistrates will hold three sessions a year with each lasting between 15 and 30 days to hear up to 30 cases per session, the Refugee Law Project of Makerere University has said.

The initiative seeks to help reduce the costs incurred by refugees and asylum seekers in transportation to the magistrate court in Kabingo, Isingiro or Mbarara town.

Partners

The United Nations High Commission for Refugees in partnership with Refugee Law Project, Uganda Human Rights Commission and Civil Society Organisations lobbied for the establishment of the flexible system for dispensing justice in the country’s largest settlement based in Isingiro District.

“In essence, mobile courts will help to address transport challenges, reduce long waiting periods between cases and also play an important role in reducing case backlog which remains a big challenge in Uganda’s legal system,” said Mr Moses Nsubuga, an official in the project, said.

According to the statement, the Refugee Law project will provide court interpreters and defence counsels.

Source: Daily Monitor (08/05/2013): http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Introduce-firing-squad-for-defilers--MPs-urged/-/688334/1845500/-/rixhqiz/-/index.html